UK bird flu strain same as the Dutch one

LONDON (AP) — British officials say a strain of bird flu found in England matches the strain found recently in the Netherlands.

Environmental officials say the H5N8 strain discovered on a duck breeding farm in the Driffield area of East Yorkshire poses only a very low risk to public health. It is not judged to be a threat to the food chain.

Officials said Tuesday that the slaughter of the 6,000 ducks on the farm is underway.

The same strain of bird flu was recently found at a chicken farm in the Netherlands.

Officials believe wild birds may have brought the bird flu to Britain. It is the first outbreak here in six years.